7 year old bitten by shark in ankle deep water

Doctors say Child’s Bites Consistent with Shark Attack

The Bay County Sheriff’s Office confirms that Ethan Hand, 7 of Smyrna, GA, was transported to the hospital after a shark bite Wednesday morning.

It happened at Beach Access 16, 7817 Surf Drive. Doctors believe the wounds are consistent with a bite from a small hammerhead or nurse shark.

The incident report says the boy is doing well after surgery and is being released from Bay Medical Center.

Here is the press release by the BCSO:

The Bay County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call this morning on Panama City Beach at about 10:24 to Beach Access 16 at 7817 Surf Drive, in reference to an injured child.

When deputies arrived they found a 7 year old boy with an injury to his ankle. The child’s mother told deputies she heard her son screaming and ran to him in the water and picked him up. According to the child’s mother he was standing in ankle deep water when he was injured. She did not see a shark or any other marine animal near her son. Other witnesses to the incident told deputies they also did not see a shark or any other marine animal in the water near the child, which was very shallow.

The family of the child is visiting from Smyrna, Georgia. The child was transported to a local hospital for treatment.